Harry Edwards is ready to represent himself and his team this Saturday at Badmofo 5 in Barnsley.
The Metrodome in Barnsley is set to host a fun-filled night of action, and Edward’s at the thick of the action when faced with Josh Hood in a featherweight matchup.
We had the opportunity of talking with Harry Edwards prior to his first mixed martial arts content of 2023.
Read the full exclusive below.
Interview With Harry Edwards
Closing in on fight night, Harry, how’s the body and mind feeling as we approach your first outing of 2023?
I’m feeling fantastic! While this is my first MMA fight of the year, I’ve made sure from January to stay active and keep in shape. My team has kept me super sharp, and the more frequent competition has helped me elevate my skills further than ever before.
I must address your 2022 campaign in competition. Unfortunately, you dropped two back-to-back bouts after a perfect start to your career. How would you sum up your year as a whole inside the cage, and what do you feel went wrong against Daniel Ward and Kayne Holmes?
So, of course, I was disappointed with those fights. I think, in general, 2022 was a difficult year as, after those bouts, I was unable to compete in December due to an injury. That said, I learnt a whole lot! Besides developing my skills generally, my fights with Ward and Holmes showed me that I absolutely belong at the top of whatever division I fight in and that the fundamentals are there. It’s all about execution, keeping calm at the moment and being better able to adapt on the fly in a chaotic environment. This is something I’ve worked really hard to develop, and I couldn’t have improved in that without those experiences with those two great fighters.
Harry Edwards Talks AVT
AVT Leeds has always been one of the deadliest mats in the country. What’s the atmosphere like in the gym at the minute, and who are some of the bodies that you’ve been working with the most?
The atmosphere is great! AVT is in the ascendancy right now. We’ve got guys winning in the world’s biggest promotions, amateurs capturing the most prolific titles, and new blood coming up all the time to keep everyone honest. I’ve been making sure to get as many rounds with Charlie Lynce Spence, Adam Bramhald and Mason Yarrow as possible, really sharp MMA strikers. But I’ve also stayed super consistent with my grappling, always getting my wrestling rounds in under Ash Roden and developing a crushing BJJ top game from Liam Cann and Jay Furness.
So, this time you won’t be behind the commentary desk, but you’ll be in the fire. On that topic, how have you enjoyed commentating on the BMF shows in the past, and is that something you are keen to pursue on the side?
Commentating, especially on shows like BMF, is the best gig ever! I’m very fortunate that Connor has given me the opportunity to get myself in that booth, elevate my platform and offer my insights. It is absolutely something I will continue to do. I’ve also had the chance to commentate on Caged Steel, and I’d love to get on even more shows around the UK. The fight scene is popping off like never before, so to be both a developing fighter and analyst at this time is super exciting!
Experience
You laced up the gloves and competed against a talented striker last month between the ropes. Just tell me what you gained from that experience.
Loads! Firstly, normalizing the intensity of competition is really important for me. Coming into my Ward and Holmes fights, I built it up as if I was fighting for a world championship and that led to anxiety that definitely impacted on my performance. So hopping into a ring, with the crowd roaring (mostly for my opponent) and maintaining my composure, was a big step in the right direction. Secondly, on the technical side, I’ve developed confidence in my striking, particularly my boxing, which I think will open up even more opportunities to show my overall skillset. I’m often the shorter opponent, so getting better at closing the distance and landing with heat on a taller guy has been a really positive outcome. I can’t wait to put these new skills on display!
The Matchup
April 15th, you clash with Josh Hood. What do you know about your opponent, if anything, and how do you feel you two match up against one another?
I know that Josh Hood is a striker with a Wonderboy, Raymond Daniels-esque style. He’s very elusive, and he’s fast, but he is predominantly a point fighter. I don’t know much about his ground game, but I feel confident that if I’m able to take the fight to the ground, I’m going to be a serious, serious threat both with strikes and submissions. With that said, especially with the recent kickboxing, I know that I can stand with anyone. So I’m feeling good wherever the fight goes.
BMF have thanked Josh for stepping up on two weeks’ notice, but how prepared do you feel he actually is? There’s only so much you can do in two weeks in times of sharpening the iron, game planning and ensuring the cardio’s on point, right?
I’m assuming that Josh is like me in that all year round. He’s in the gym. To be the type of guy who is willing to accept short-notice fights, you have to be. So I am not taking his conditioning for granted at all. I am prepared to burn my lungs out for 9 minutes if I have to. As for specifically preparing for myself, I have a very broad skill set. I pride myself on being a true MMA fighter rather than only relying on striking or grappling independent of the other essential components of mixed martial arts. In this way, I know that in some sense, I am easy to prepare for because it’s simply a case of trying to improve every aspect of your game. However, it also makes me hard to prepare for because I always have another angle of attack that I can take if something isn’t working, and you never know what that will be. I expect Josh to come in fully prepared, but he should know I am too.
A Message for Josh Hood
What message would you have for a Josh Hood who anticipates the same Harry Edwards to show up as his previous two fights on Almighty?
My message for Josh, first and foremost, is to thank you for taking the fight. I was worried that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to compete, so I also appreciated his stepping up. That said, I’m ready to demonstrate that myself and my team are a level above, we are the next big thing in UK MMA, and I am a superior fighter who belongs at the top of the featherweight and soon bantamweight divisions. I expect him to bring the heat, but he’ll find out soon that this is what I live for.
I’ll leave you with the last words. Is there any last word for your opponent or any sponsors you’d like to thank? The floor is yours.
I want to thank every single one of my teammates and coaches from all the AVT crew, including Jay Furness, Danny Mitchell, Robbie Kennedy and many more! For my striking, I want to thank James France for really developing my game and turning me into a serious threat on the feet, and for my MMA grappling, I want to thank Liam Cann for the amazing technical details he imparts that always make me that next 1% better. I’ve also got to shout out all my friends and family who support me. I’m gonna put on a show for you all! I’ve got the best support network out there, and on April 15th, I’m looking to pay them back with a fight of the night and a highlight reel finish.
Featured image credits to DN4 Photography
